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HomeMy WebLinkAbout02-26-18 Community Investment W PEACE Y �,e a2 a 1865 OFFICE OF THE CITY CLERK KAREEMAH FOWLER,CITY CLERK COMMUNITY INVESTMENT FEBRUARY 26, 2018 3:30 P.M. Committee Members Present: Gavin Ferlic, Regina Williams-Preston, Sharon L. McBride, Will Smith(citizen member) Committee Members Absent: Oliver Davis Other Council Present: Tim Scott, Jo M. Broden, John Voorde, Dr. David Varner, Karen White Other Council Absent: None Others Present: Bianca Tirado, Graham Sparks, Bob Palmer Presenters: Dan Buckenmeyer, Jeff Ryan Agenda: Bill No. 18-07- Petition for Non-Compliance Waiver- The LaSalle Apartments, LLC Committee Chair Gavin Ferlic called to order the Community Investment Committee at 3:30 p.m. He introduced members of the Committee and proceeded to give the floor to the presenters. Bill No 18-07-Petition for Non-Compliance Waiver-The LaSalle Apartments,LLC Dan Buckenmeyer,Director of Business Development with offices on the 14'h floor of the County- City Building, stated, This request is for a waiver of non-compliance for The LaSalle Apartments. This boils down to a simple issue. The Assessor did not send out a new assessment which would have triggered the petitioner to take the next step in the abatement process. They received their tax bill recently and it did not reflect what was intended. DCI supports this and all of the other things that are supposed to be done are done in terms of investment. Jeff Ryan, Real America with offices at 10501 Hague Road in Fishers, Indiana, stated, As Dan said, we did what we promised and we redeveloped the building very beautifully. We are at one hundred percent(100%) occupancy. Committee Chair Ferlic encouraged the Department of Community Investment to work with the Assessor's Office to fix this problem. Councilmember Dr. David Varner asked, Hasn't this project changed hands? 455 County-City Building-227 W.Jefferson Boulevard-South Bend,Indiana 46601 Phone 574-235-9221 -Fax 574-235-9173-TDD 574-235-5567-www.SouthBendfN.gov JENNIFER M.COFFMAN BIANCA L.TIRADO JOSEPH R.MOLNAR CHIEF DEPUTY/DIRECTOR OF DEPUTY/DIRECTOR OF POLICY ORDINANCE VIOLATION CLERK OPERATIONS Mr. Buckenmeyer replied, Yes, sir. The original tax abatement went to Great Lakes and then was transferred to Real America. Councilmember Dr. Varner followed up, And that didn't play any part in this issue? Mr. Buckenmeyer replied, I don't think so,no. Councilmember Karen White asked, How is parking? Mr. Ryan replied, Parking is fine. We have three (3) parking lots and the residents are happy. I think we are around ninety (90) spaces for our sixty-seven (67) apartments. Most residents only have one (1) car. Councilmember Jo M. Broden stated, With regard to these non-compliance waivers, I want to make sure our language is not loose on this. You did not receive a new assessment from the Assessor's Office? I just want to make sure what we're clear on and if we are seeing these across residential and businesses, I think there is a real need to close the loop. My follow up question is what conversations have occurred between DCI, the Assessor's Office and the Auditor's Office? Mr. Buckenmeyer replied, To answer your first question, they did not receive the reassessment notice. Secondly, we literally got this last week so we have had a few conversations to confirm what was going on at that level. We haven't talked with the Assessor about it to understand if this is a broader issue or just a single glitch but we plan to do that. Councilmember Broden stated, We need to close whatever is happening there. Committee Chair Ferlic invited DCI to come back to the next Committee meeting to follow up on their discussions with the Assessor's and Auditor's Offices. Councilmember John Voorde asked, So this place is full occupancy and so is the JMS Building? Mr. Buckenmeyer replied, That is my understanding, yes. Committeemember Will Smith stated,I think in this particular case,we did offer an extension back in 2016. So I think that may have also played into this issue. Committee Chair Ferlic then opened the floor to members of the public wishing to speak in favor of or in opposition to the legislation. There were none. He then turned the floor back to the Committee for further comment or main motion. Committeemember Smith made a motion to send Bill No.18-07 to the full Council with a favorable recommendation. Committeemember Regina Williams-Preston seconded the motion which carried unanimously by a voice vote of four(4) ayes. With no further business, Committee Chair Ferlic adjourned the Community Investment Committee meeting at 3:38 p.m. 2 Respectfully Submitted, Gavin Ferlic, Chairperson